Annabeth:

I heard the familiar beep of my Droid X sound throughout the early morning hours.

"Don't answer that," Percy mumbled. Drowsy, I grabbed my cell phone from the bedside table.

Gina

"It's Gina," I moaned.

"Answer it," Percy sighed, and I did as he said by pressing accept.

In the background, I could hear the sounds of little girls laughing, including Gina's. There are some people who I can't imagine at a slumber party, like my own mother, but I have no difficulty picturing Gina there. Infact, I imagined her being at the center of it all, maybe even wearing matching pajamas as her daughter, Carly.

"Annabeth, what happened with you and Ryan?" Gina impatiently asked me. I could tell that she had been waiting all day to ask me that. I wasn't sure what to tell her. The truth would be too much to simply state over a phone call. Even if it wasn't, I'm not so sure this would be the right time anyway.

"Uh, we broke up," I bit my tongue, knowing this conversation could now take hours. Gina int give up on things like this. She wanted the whole story.

"Are you going to tell her?" Percy's eyes flew open, and I immediately shook my head. I would eventually, but this isn't the kind of girl who would take well to me admitting it. I mean, she almost died when she heard that I hooked up with Ryan. I couldn't imagine her reaction to this.

"Oh my God! Are you okay, Sweetie?" Gina asked, her voice filled with compassion. I was better than okay. I was great. I was happier than anything.

I couldn't tell her that though.

"Yeah, Gina, I'm fine. We weren't right for each other, and I didn't need to be with a liar like him," I answered, wanting this conversation to end. Percy watched me with his eyebrows knit.

"Annabeth, now that you're single again, I know this one guy I know you'll love. He has a child, Rebecca, and he's older than you. But I think the two of you will get along well," Gina probably would have gone on for hours until I cut her off.

"I don't think that'll be necessary, Gina. Right now is just a really critical time for Sarah…and me…and Percy," I smiled at the last bit and looked at him.

"It's not that hot," Percy shrugged. I steamed at that, ignoring the pun as to how it was a hot July day. Using the oar, I splashed that beautiful face of his.

"Hey," Percy laughed, trying to be mad. It was hard for him to be mad at me. Usually, he just tries to look angry, but he just ends up laughing and kissing me. Of course, I don't mind. Personally, I love it. I can do just about anything and I'll end up with a kiss. It's really a win-win for me.

"Yeah, I'm out in a boat in the middle of the lake on a hot July day with my boyfriend who knows exactly how to steer this freakin' boat!" I pouted, splashing him again.

I hadn't been in a good mood all day. I didn't know why but I just wasn't. I think it had to do with the fact that Malcolm freaked out this morning when I got in to my cabin. Percy and I had a fight- again-, and I fell asleep in his cabin after we worked it out-again. We didn't do anything-this time-but Malcolm just freaked out, even when I told him that, minus the 'this time' thing. I don't think he'd handle that well.

"It can't be that bad," Percy shrugged.

"I'm. Being. Burned. By. A. Boat, Perce."

Percy shook his head, probably realizing I had a point. I tried to see the positive in the situation. I was alone with my boyfriend in the middle of the lake, far away from my siblings, but the negative just stuck to me.

"Why'd we really come out here?" I asked, with my arms crossed. Percy stared off into the sun shining into the green water. It took all of my willpower not to dive off into the cool water, and I'm not sure I made a good choice with that.

"Malcolm scares me," Percy looked back at me with that goofy grin I loved so much. I tried to shove his leg with my foot, but it just made the boat rock a little bit. His skin felt cool, and I wanted to get closer to him for some off reason. I shook it off, hoping it went away.

Percy, ignoring the shaking of the boat, tried to shove me. With that, I almost fell in , and he grabbed my wrist. I forgot about the hot day or Malcolm. All I could think of was Percy as I looked into his beautiful green eyes, and that was all I wanted to think about.

"Still such a bad day?"

"Shut up," I smiled, moving to where I could kiss him without tipping the canoe.

"Alright, alright. I understand, Annabeth. Anyway, Sarah was just a sweetheart. Pick-Up is in thirty minutes or so, but she can stay longer if you want," Gina treated me like I suppose a newly divorced woman in the suburbs would be treated.

"No, I'll pick her up in thirty minutes. It's fine, Gina. I'm going to try to spend some time with Sarah this weekend. So, I'll call you on Monday," I started to sit up in bed even though I was still really tired. It was nine am, but I felt like it was five.

"Okay. Okay, I get it. You need some alone time," Gina surrendered, "See you soon then."

I hung up the phone before she could say anything else. I closed my eyes, thinking of Sarah. I knew that she would love the news that Percy and I were back together, but I didn't know how to tell her. We hadn't even brought up the gods being her grandparents. This was so much.

"You okay?" Percy asked, making me open my eyes.

And there was the upside to use getting back together.

I had him.

"Just thinking about Sarah…and my mom," I bit my lip as I looked at him. Athena was a hard subject for us, especially now. Percy almost laughed as if the thought of her murdering him was hilarious. Personally, it made me want to kiss him.

"She's not going to take hearing about us well," Percy nodded.

"But you know Aphrodite will be just screaming it for all the gods to hear," I smiled, and he smiled, too. I could just picture Aphrodite running towards the court, wearing a plush pink robe, and it was enough to make me fall of the bed from laughing.

"Yeah, and Apollo will of course be hung over. So, he'll get mad at Aphrodite."

"And Hephaestus will defend her."

"And Ares will agree with Apollo that she should shut up," I kept going.

"Then your mom will look up from her cup of tea and shake her head," Percy sat up beside me.

"And, finally, Zeus will shut everybody up and ask what it is that Aphrodite is so excited about," I smiled.

"She'll answer, and our parents will almost die. But, after that, it's official," Percy smiled.

"We're officially back together?" I asked, knowing the answer. Percy just smiled and kissed me as if that was a response, which let me tell you it wasn't.

XXXXXXX

"How was the sleepover?" I asked as I set Sarah's bag by the dining table. Sarah looked tired, which told me she had fun. But she wasn't smiling.

"I heard Mrs. Fredrick. She said you and Ryan broke up. Is that true? Sarah asked, still standing by the door. I sighed before nodding. I didn't regret leaving Ryan. I regretted how long it went on, and I regretted that night I chose Ryan instead of Percy.

"Was it because of what I told you?" Sarah asked.

Here it goes.

Percy was coming over soon to spend the weekend with the two of us, and we were saving telling her about us until then. So, now, I just had to tell her the Ryan part, trying to leave the bad parts out.

I motioned towards the sofa, and Sarah followed me. I looked at her a moment before continuing. She looked exactly like me other than the hair, but I saw something Percy-like in her. As I tried to place it, I realize that it was her eyes. They were grey like mine, but there was this sweetness about them. It was kind and generous. It was what I loved most about Percy, and I was happy to see that Sarah shared it.

I've known that she is our daughter, but it didn't really sink in until now. Up until this moment, she was my daughter and his daughter. She wasn't our daughter, but there it was. Sarah was the best of us put into one, and I loved her. I began to wonder how I had let her go all of those years ago. Now, I'd let her go over my dead body, but I just signed the papers.

Of course, I hated leaving Percy, but leaving Sarah was the biggest regret I will ever have.

"Ryan and I weren't meant to be together. We had been talking about letting you bump up to the next class, and Ryan agreed. We were having a fight," I left out that the fight had been about him cheating, "and we were thinking of reasons to stay together," I left out how I just decided and walked out, "And neither of us had any."

Sarah nodded.

"Besides, I could never love anyone nearly as much as I love you. It wouldn't be fair to them," I smiled. Sarah simply smiled, which I noticed was the first time since I picked her up. Sarah became that bubbly six year old girl I loved to so much, to my relief. I began to wonder why I was dumb enough to stay with Ryan for even a day.

"Why don't you go put up your stuff? Dad will be here soon," I told Sarah, and her eyes lit up even more. Sarah nodded, sending her black hair into a frenzy. It was a little adorable to tell you the truth. I didn't say anything as she left me on the couch and went up the stairs.

The cold air conditioner made almost shiver, and the sun reflecting on all the white in here almost gave me a migraine. This was the moment I finally got to think about everything.

Ryan cheated. I left. I went to Percy. I took forever to tell him I still loved him, and it was pretty cheesy, to tell you the truth…

I was happier than I had been in years, but I was still scared to absolute death. Let's not even mention my mother. But, we're both stubborn. We have a six year old daughter. And look how well our relationship went the first time.

The doorbell rang, shaking me out of my thoughts. I wiped the smile off my face and got up, knowing it would be Percy. Or at least, I was hoping it was Percy. For the millionth time, I began to wonder about Percy's ex-wife, who I still have not heard much about. Honestly, knowing Percy, it's a miracle that I know her name. I didn't know why she would cheat on Percy. I mean, what more could you want than him?

I opened the front door, trying not to think of the past. It was too painful anyway. If I started thinking of Calli, I'd think of Percy being married. Then, I'd think of when I left him. And I'd remember the painfully lonely seven years or so that came after I left him. It was hard to think of Percy moving on while I just threw myself into my work. He got married, for Zeus's sake! I bit my lip not to think about it.

"Coffee?" Percy stood at the door, holding two cups Starbucks coffee. I smiled and let him in. Percy handed me the cup, and I sipped at it, letting the hot liquid surge caffeine through my veins. The fog making it hard to think started to lift, and I smiled at it. I was still tired, but I could manage now.

"Sarah's in her room… Gina let it slip that Ryan and I split. I had to tell her an edited version as to how it happened," I told him, and Percy quizzically looked at me as if to say 'This outghta be good'

"Annabeth, you caught him cheating, broke up with him, and used one of the lowest lines I've heard in years. How did you edit it?" Percy raised his eyebrows and crossed his arms over a NYU tee shirt.

"I said that we had a fight and it was a mutual agreement. Then, I told her that she was getting bumped up to the next grade in her swim class," I shrugged, taking another sip of coffee.

"If your break-up was peaceful, then Calli and I had the dream divorce," Percy smirked as he set his bag down and took a sip of his own coffee. I did my best not to speak about that. I liked that he was finally speaking to me about her, but I still wasn't happy about the fact that while I was biting my lip not to cry that he was writing his vows.

"What's the plan with telling You-Know-Who?" I immediately changed the subject.

"What are we telling Voldemort?" Percy smirked, and I crossed my arms so I wouldn't laugh.

"Hilarious, Perce," I kept my arms crossed, and Percy just laughed. My heat skipped a beat at the sight of his warm smile, but I tried not to think about it. Instead, I just looked at him as if I was still mad.

"Annabeth, just calm down. It won't be too hard," Percy put his arm around my shoulder, but I persisted anyway. He might be right. He probably was, but I was going to tell him that. Percy kissed my blonde curls as if to soothe me. I closed my eyes for a second.

"I love you, Percy," I set my head down on his shoulder, and he kissed the top of my head again.

"Seriously?" Sarah's voice made me open my eyes immediately, "After all I did to get you back together, it took talking to Ryan!"

Percy and I looked at each other with one thought in mind.

Definitely our kid.